Windows Embedded Handheld revealed

Combined with the launch of the Motorola ES400 Steve Ballmer announced a new mobile OS form Microsoft, named “Windows Embedded Handheld”. The new OS will be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 technology and will be aimed at the enterprise market.

Check out the annoying video presentation by Steve Ballmer below:
This new OS is planned for release during 2010. Later on an updated platform based on Windows 7 technologies will be released, this will be named “Windows Embedded Compact 7”. The Windows Embedded Compact 7 version is scheduled for release during the second half of 2011.

So, Microsoft will soon have 5 mobile platforms (assuming it will take some time phasing out Windows Mobile 6.5): Windows Mobile 6.5, Kin, Windows Phone 7, Windows Embedded Handheld and Windows Embedded Compact 7. Or are they hoping that the 6.5 version and the Embedded Handheld will be replaced in a jiffy by Compact 7 so that the platforms will be so scattered?

At the moment I can’t help but feel that they are just creating a bigger mess for themselves, it probably looked good on all the excel sheets, but it’s just turning out to be confusing in reality.

It is indeed good that there is a enterprise focused mobile OS that will keep the Mobile 6.5 legacy and let those companies that invested heavily in that platform keep their investments. But I think some where inside I was kind of hoping for Windows Phone 7 to shoulder that responsibility. So I had some initial issues with WP7 because I felt they were making it impossible for us developers to write solid enterprise apps on it, but now it become clear as to why WP7’s limitations are what they are.

Check this link for more information.